Curtain stretcher



Jan. 13, 1931. L. R. KU IAS 1,789,144

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Jan. 9. 1928 7 Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED '.STATES LILLIAN R. KU IA's, or cnbnn i'lirrbsg-rown f CURTAIN STRETCHER V -Application and January 9, 1928.. Serial No. 245,380. I V

This invention relates to the laundering of lace curtains and other loose-mesh fabrics which after washing,are spreadout to dry,

' preferably Withstretching. The object of the invention is to produce a convenient stretching frame, by meansof which the curtains' may be spread outfiat and may dry smoothly.

. Fig. 1 is an enlarged View in perspective of one of the curtain-bar brackets. Fig; 5 shows such a bar provided with hooks. Fig. 6 shows the application of hooks to a member of the main frame.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes a I pair of longitudinal bars, preferably of wood,

pierced with holes at 6, and slotted at-7. Connecting with these bars are similar frame cross-bars 8 pierced with holes at 9. The holes permit lateral and longitudinal adjustment by considerable spaces, and the slots serve for nice and accurate endwise adjustment, so as to secure the desired stretch of the curtains endwise. together by bolts 10 and thumb-screws 11. The heads of the bolts are formed as stirruplike brackets 12, which as shown in Fig. 2 are made long enough to hold a numberof curtain cross-bars 18, with curtains 14 spaced a little apart for proper drying. These bars are preferably of metal, such as stifi brass or steel electro-plated, or enameled to prevent rusting, and whenever the end-seams of the curtains will admit, are inserted in the seams like an ordinary curtain-rod. The projecting ends of the curtain-bars are slipped into the stirrup-like brackets edgewise of the length The frame-bars are fastened of the fabric, and the lower bar accurately adjusted to the desired stretch. If more than one curtain is stretehed atonce,as in Fig. 2,

with bars inserted in both endseams, the

curtains would need to be of exactly the same length in order to stretch uniformly. If not of the same length, or if for any reason the bar can not well be inserted'in the seam, a bar provided with a series of hooks 15 may be used to catch the curtain near a fold or seam. '7 The books; are formed of sharpened wire, and are of such simple construction as to need no particular description.

It issometimes desirable to draw the fabric sidewise, as well asendwise, and fasten it in position for drying. For this purpose the inner edges of the longitudinal bars are equipped with hooks 16, serving in the same manner as above described. 7

In Fig. '1 three cross-bars are shown, and

, in case of frames for long curtains the third cross-bar may be supplied, but its .usewould' seldom be necessary, except as a supplemental cross-brace for the frame. v

In Fig. 3 the longitudinal bars are shown provided with hang-up brackets 17 provided with key-hole slots 18, by means of which the bars may be suspended from nails 19 driven in any stable support-such as the, side of the house or garage. In this case the bars 5 which are held spaced apart by the support, and the main-frame cross-bars, which are necessary in a bodily portable frame, may be dispensed with. These brackets are offset rearwardly as shown, to makeroom for the thumb-screws 11, which are necessarily on thesame side of the longitudinalbars.

When more thanone curtain is mounted for drying atthe same time, it is desirable tokeep them separated. The brackets are accordingly pierced .with'holes' 20, and in these may be slippedpins 21,.which not only serve to separate thecurtain rods, but help: to keep them in the proper edgewise' upright position. 1 I 90 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A curtain stretcher, comprising longitudinal bars With definitely spaced holes, and slotted for indefinitespecial adjustment, connecting cross-bars with spaced holes clamping bolts and thumb-nuts, said clamping bolts being adapted to be held in said holes or slots and carrying connected, outwardly pro: jecting stirrup-like brackets to connect said bars to form a rectangular frame, the brackets being pierced for yertically disposed spacing pins to hold flat curtain bars'vertically edgewise.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

LILLIAN B- KUEIAS- 

